Piranguinho may become Brazil's National Capital of Pé de Moleque

The Senate Education and Culture Commission has approved a bill that would designate the city of Piranguinho, in Minas Gerais, as the National Capital of Pé de Moleque. The project, PL 2.362/2022, was presented by former federal deputy Bilac Pinto and received a favorable opinion from Senator Professora Dorinha Seabra.

Because the proposal was approved via a terminative decision by the commission, the text will proceed directly to presidential sanction without requiring a vote in the Senate Plenary, unless an appeal is filed.

The artisanal production of the peanut candy in Piranguinho has a history dating back to 1911 and is already recognized as a cultural heritage of the state of Minas Gerais. The industry is a significant driver of the local economy, with the municipal GDP estimated at approximately R$ 136 million according to 2021 IBGE data. The city also hosts the annual 'Festa do Maior Pé de Moleque do Mundo', which in its 2025 edition featured a 31.3-meter candy and attracted over 17,000 visitors.